Alabama
Florida
Kentucky
Louisiana
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Texas
- Birmingham’s 149-room Tutwiler Hotel reopened in April after a full-scale makeover, including new guest rooms and upgraded amenities. The historic hotel is now being operated under the Hampton Inn and Suites flag, though its name remains the same. Upgrades include wireless Internet, a renovated lobby with a lending library and a state-of-the-art business center. For more information, call 205.322.2100 or visit www.thetutwilerhotel.com.
Florida
- Edgewater Beach Resort Management unveiled the first of four towers of its $250 million Emerald Beach Resort and Spa in Panama City Beach. Tower one has opened with 260 guest suites. Tower three is next, and the final two towers are slated to open in 2009, bringing the total to 1,000 one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. Other amenities on tap are a lagoon pool, rooftop pool, 27-hole Hombre Golf Club, 10,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, and the largest skybridge in Florida. Emerald Beach Resort and Spa will eventually boast more than 60,000 square feet of meeting space. For more information, call 850.249.4444 or visit www.emeraldbeachresort.com.
- By the end of summer, Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort, Panama City Beach is slated to complete construction on the SeaWatch Conference and Entertainment Center, is a three-story, 4,000-square-foot meeting and entertainment facility located directly on the Gulf Coast. Features include floor-to-ceiling all-glass walls, a mini spa, and fully enclosed meeting space with 14-foot ceilings and the latest technology. For more information, call 850.234.1111 or visit www.hipcbeach.com.
- The Wyndham Westshore–Tampa is undergoing an $18 million renovation. All public rooms, meeting space and guest rooms are being upgraded, including the addition of 2,500 square feet of meeting space and an additional 7,000-square-foot atrium venue, bringing the total amount of event space to 21,000 square feet. Half of the hotel’s 17 junior suites will be upgraded to business suites with meeting tables and high-tech capabilities. The completion date is set for August. For more information, call 813.286.4400 or visit www.wyndham.com.
- The TradeWinds Island Grand in St. Petersburg this spring unveiled a 10,282-square-foot pavilion bringing the total meeting space at the property to more than 68,000 square feet. The $1 million pavilion accommodates exhibits, banquets and meetings and receptions. For more information, call 727.367.6461 or visit www.tradewindsmeetings.com.
Kentucky
- Hyatt Place Cincinnati Airport opened as one of the first Hyatt Place hotels in the Cincinnati area. The hotel offers 127 completely renovated guest rooms, each featuring free Wi-Fi access and a 42-inch flat panel television that offers connection to laptops, MP3 players, DVD players, and any other portable device. For more information, call 859.647.1170 or visit http://cincinnatiairport.place.hyatt.com.
Louisiana
- Hilton Shreveport is opening in July with 313 guest rooms and suites, ranging in size from 400 to 1,200 square feet. Guest room amenities include a 32-inch LCD television, complimentary Wi-Fi access and a clock radio to which guests can connect their MP3 player, portable CD player, laptop, and other electronic devices. There is also a fitness center. For more information, call 318.698.0900 or visit www1.hilton.com.
Oklahoma
- Following a change of ownership, the 395-room Sheraton Hotel Oklahoma City will retain the Sheraton brand and undergo a $3.8 million renovation to public spaces. Set in Oklahoma City’s famed Bricktown area, the hotel offers renovated guest rooms, full-service business and fitness centers, and 27,000 square feet of meeting space. For more information, call 405.235.2780 or visit www.sheratonokc.com.
South Carolina
- The Charleston Marriott, owned and operated by JHM Hotels, debuted in May, becoming the first full-service Marriott Hotel in Charleston, S.C. Formerly the Charleston Riverview Hotel, the 14-story, 340-room hotel received a multimillion-dollar renovation of all guest rooms and public spaces, as well as its meeting areas. The hotel offers over 14,000 square feet of conference space, including nine versatile meeting rooms. For more information, call 843.723.3000 or visit www.marriottcharleston.com.
Texas
- The Dallas Marriott Solana is undergoing a $23 million transformation that includes a complete renovation of its existing 198 rooms and the addition of a new wing, which will add another 96 rooms to the hotel. It will also offer an additional 4,500 square feet of meeting space and a 3,000-square-foot outdoor terrace with an outdoor fireplace. The hotel’s existing ballroom is also being expanded by 2,000 square feet, to bring it to a total of 8,000 square feet. Completion is slated for September. For more information, call 817.430.4870 or visit http://marriott.com.
- The 156-room Embassy Suites Fort Worth–Downtown opened this spring just three blocks from the Fort Worth Convention Center. The property offers complimentary high-speed Internet access, 6,000 square feet of conference space, an indoor pool, and a martini bar. For more information, call 817.332.6900 or visit http://embassysuites.hilton.com.